FOR THE BOATMEN, AS THEY APPROACH THE RAPIDS UNDER THE CASTLE OF HEIDELBERG Jesu! bless our slender Boat, By the current swept along; Loud its threatenings--let them not Drown the music of a song Breathed thy mercy to implore, 5 Where these troubled waters roar! Saviour, for our warning, seen[488] Bleeding on that precious Rood; If, while through the meadows green Gently wound the peaceful flood, 10 We forgot Thee, do not Thou Disregard thy Suppliants now! Hither, like yon ancient Tower Watching o'er the River's bed, Fling the shadow of thy power, 15 Else we sleep among the dead; Thou who trod'st[489] the billowy sea, Shield us in our jeopardy! Guide our Bark among the waves; Through the rocks our passage smooth; 20 Where the whirlpool frets and raves Let thy love its anger soothe: All our hope is placed in Thee; _Miserere Domine!_[HG] VARIANTS: [Footnote 488: 1837. Lord and Saviour! who art seen 1822. Saviour, in thy image, seen 1827. ] [Footnote 489: 1827. Traveller on ... 1822. ] FOOTNOTES: [Footnote HG: _Miserere Domine._ See the beautiful Song in Mr. Coleridge's Tragedy, "THE REMORSE." Why is the Harp of Quantock silent?--W. W. 1822. The following is the song, _Miserere Domine_, from Coleridge's _Remorse_, act III. scene i.:-- Hear, sweet spirit, hear the spell, Lest a blacker charm compel! So shall the midnight breezes swell With thy deep long-lingering knell. And at evening evermore, In a Chapel on the shore, Shall the Chaunters sad and saintly, Yellow tapers burning faintly, Doleful Masses chaunt for thee, _Miserere Domine!_ Hark! the cadence dies away On the quiet moonlight sea: The boatmen rest their oars and say, _Miserere Domine!_ This song was set to music by Mr. Carnaby in 1802.--ED.